Data Base for Library Research

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J023

Résumé, summary

The data-base activity helped even elementary school students to develop their research skills. In our school, we developed the data-base using our school library books as well as some other books in the public library located in the school district. The students could easily find books from the data-base by title of the book, name of the author, or by key words.
Our 5th graders researched "pollution" for the activity. The students made a group and worked on a small topic about "pollution", such as air pollution, water pollution, and so on. First, the students made a plan for their research, and then they used the data-base software in order to find some references for their research. Next, they selected and read the references to write their research papers. Finally, they typed some handouts using a word processor, and presented their research studies in the classroom. They used the over head projector, slide projector, and VCR for their presentation.

Contacts :

Pédagogie, pedagogy :

Data-base activities can help even elementary school students develop their research skills. The students are active learners during the activity. The students learn the convenience of computer use and are motivated to work on their research topics.

Apprentissage, learning :

The students can develop their research skills using the data-base software. The students can find some references more quickly with the data-base than with index cards. Therefore, they can have more time to read these references and can keep up their interest toward their research topics.

Enseignement, teaching :

The teacher encourages the students to gather and select some references which are related to their research topics. The teacher also needs to give the students some opportunities for presenting their research work.

Technique :

We used data-base software called "Suketto-kun Jr." on the PC type computers. We input the information of our school library books and some other books in the public library which is located in our school district. The students can easily find their references from the data-base by title of the book, name of the author, or some other ways.

Société, society :

The students made a group to research a small topic cooperatively. Therefore, they could help each other when they had some problems.

Culture :

Institution :

We used the computer lab and the school library for the research activity. The teacher was readily available for the students' questions.

Logistique :

Remarques, remarks :

The students could find which book was available in the school library and which book was available in the public library. The students who had never used the public library before had a chance to visit it for their research.